Rockets report: Clint Capela out at least 4 weeks with leg injury

Center Clint Capela, one of the keys to the Rockets' strong start and a 10-game winning streak going into Tuesday's game, is out a minimum of four weeks with a fracture in his left fibula.

Capela was hurt in a collision with Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns on Saturday at Minnesota. The Rockets' starting center, Capela averages 11.8 points and eight rebounds.

"You hate to lose anybody, especially him and his development," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He is 22 years old. I am sure he hates to be out, but it gives opportunities to other guys, so we have to step up and try to fill the holes the best we can."

"I think we have enough … to hold down the fort until he gets back."

Nene started with Capela out Tuesday in just the fourth different lineup the Rockets have used this season. D'Antoni expected to split the center minutes between Nene and Montrezl Harrell and would also use forward Ryan Anderson, who played at center in the Rockets' overtime win at Minnesota on Saturday, in some matchups.

"Clint is a key piece to our team and what we're trying to do," guard James Harden said. "It's tough, especially a young player like that who has been playing well and has been given an opportunity to start and play heavy minutes.

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Scouting report:at Phoenix Suns

When/where: 8 p.m. today; Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV/radio: Root; 790 AM, 850 AM (Spanish), 101.7 FM (Spanish).

Rockets update: They are 5-0 in the second half of back-to-backs … The Rockets have won seven of their past nine games against the Suns … With Clint Capela out, Nene started at center Tuesday. The Rockets had been holding him out of one game in back-to-backs, but he did play on consecutive nights last week … The Rockets moved from 28th in defensive rating when December began to 14th heading into Tuesday's game against the Spurs.

Suns update: They have a three-game losing streak and have just a 3-16 record against Western Conference teams … The Suns allow 113.1 points per game, the second-most in the NBA. They rank 24th in defensive rating … Opponents are making 38.7 percent of their 3-pointers against the Suns, the second-worst 3-point percentage defense in the NBA … The Suns are second only to the Nets in pace of play.

Statistically speaking: 5 - NBA players averaging at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists, including Suns point guard Eric Bledsoe and Rockets point guard James Harden.

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"We have to the right training staff, and he will be back in no time - a few weeks."

Backup big men asked to do more

The Rockets planned few changes to how they run their offense with Nene replacing Clint Capela in the starting lineup. But there could be unplanned changes, with Nene more of a passer from the elbow and he and Montrezl Harrell more likely than Capela to take mid-range jump shots, who will take pocket passes to the rim.

"We have Nene and Montrezl, and we need those guys to step up, too," guard James Harden said. "We have Nene, he's a vet, and he's been through it all. More opportunity, just take advantage of it. Our bigs are all similar in terms of being smart, knowing where to be, how to screen. Nothing changes. It just sucks to see Clint go out."

The emphasis on pick-and-roll offense and reading how teams defend it will not change.

"We won't make it complicated," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "That's on James a little bit. Instead of lobs, there will be more pocket passes. But we play the way we play. Everybody has their way of doing things, but there'll be a lot of pick-and-rolls. Same thing.

"(Nene) passes a little better. We'll have a little bit of that. That'll be just naturally from plays that aren't diagrammed, just when we start to play. We'll do that from him a lot more, where he'll pass the ball."

Back-to-backs an issue for Nene

The Rockets had been holding Nene out of one game in each of their first four sets of back-to-back, but now that he is starting with Clint Capela out, coach Mike D'Antoni said he hoped Nene could play again Wednesday in Phoenix.

Nene played both games in a back-to-back last week, but played only nine minutes in the first game. His availability will depend on how much he plays in the first game and how his knees feel the next day.

"The biggest thing I worry about now is can't put too many minutes on Nene, or we'll lose him for later on when we need him," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We might play Ryan (Anderson) at the five. There's different ways we can do it."

The Rockets play on consecutive nights three times in the next 10 days.

Jonathan Feigen has been the Rockets beat writer since 1998 and a basketball nut since before Willis Reed limped out for Game 7. He became a sports writer because the reporter that was supposed to cover the University of Delaware basketball team decided to instead play one more season of college lacrosse and has never looked back.

Feigen, who has won APSE, APME and United States Basketball Writers Association awards from El Campo to Houston, came to Texas in 1981 to cover the Rice Birds, was Sports Editor in Garland before moving to Dallas to cover everything from the final hurrah of the Southwest Conference to SMU after the death penalty.

After joining the Houston Chronicle in 1990, Feigen has covered the demise of the SWC, the rise of the Big 12 and the Rockets at their championship best.